So much to sea in Barcelona: Sun sights and culture in the jewel in Catalonia's crown

City beach in Barcelona, the Montjuic “magic fountain” and the Nou Camp (Image: Getty Images)

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Fancy a Spanish holiday with a difference? Hola, Catalonia! Barcelona is the jewel in the crown of the region and it’s easy to see why some consider it the country’s best city.

From bars and restaurants to brilliant shopping and a beautiful seafront, the city centre is truly magnificent.

Barcelona’s most famous street Las Ramblas is a hub of electric nightlife and runs from the main square Placa de Catalunya right down to the sea, where there is everything from a huge aquarium to a large shopping centre.

The seafront is a hive of activity, with sunbathers, cyclists and street entertainers all in huge numbers.

City beach in Barcelona (Image: getty Images)

There is also a lovely marina, home to a large number of yachts while cruise liners also use the port to dock, which of course gives you the option of starting a cruise from Barcelona.

One thing you must do if you are in the vicinity of the harbour is take a trip in a cable car. They run above the sea offering splendid views of all that’s going on from the sky. Tickets cost just €11 one-way or €16.50 return.

There is also another one which runs up Montjuic hill. It costs €7.30 one-way or €10.30 return.

Across the city you will discover unusual and well-known buildings by architect Antoni Gaudi, who had a unique approach to the Art Nouveau movement.

The most famous of his works, the church La Sagrada Familia has been in construction since 1892 and isn’t expected to be finished until 2030.

Another must-see in Barcelona is the Montjuic “magic fountain”.

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The spectacular fountain, built in 1929, turns a range of different colours during the night show to the rapturous applause of tourists and locals alike.

It is located at the bottom of the steps up to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, a magnificent museum, and is close to the Centro Comercial de Las Arenas, which is a shopping centre with a number of restaurants on the top floor offering brilliant views.

Another place definitely worth visiting in the city is the home of Barcelona FC and the biggest soccer stadium in Europe – the Nou Camp.

Queues can be quite long to get into the venue, which contains the most visited museum in Catalonia, so expect to wait a while before getting in.

General tickets cost €23, with discounts offered to large groups.

Opening times vary depending on the time of year and Barcelona’s fixtures but it is mainly from 9.30am to 7.30pm.

The Camp Nou (Image: Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/Getty Images)

For accommodation in the city, Barcelo Sants is a great option.

The hotel is located above Barcelona’s main railway station Sants, which offers quick travel to most places in Catalonia and is only a couple of stops away from the heart of Las Ramblas on the underground.

Girona is another city in the region but is much smaller than the capital with a population of around 100,000. It is located around 115km from Barcelona and has a nearby airport, Girona-Costa Brava, which Ryanair flies to and from Dublin.

The old part of the city is unspoilt and most of its buildings and cobbled streets go back centuries.

One of its most impressive sights is the Girona Cathedral, which was built in 1312, and it is also home to the Eiffel Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel just before the construction of the Eiffel Tower.

If you’re a flower lover make sure to visit Girona for its flower festival which takes place in May every year and sees the entire city decorated in thousands of flowers.

Girona Cathedral (Image: Getty Images)

Even the steps of the cathedral are covered in grass to mark the occasion.